University of Virginia Library

In former times, by ancient bards we're told,
Greece, hurried by revenge, with power grown bold,
Invested Troy's fam'd city, and at length,
By art, not force of arms, subdued its strength.
The guards, by fraud deceived, betray'd their trust,
And Troy's proud tow'rs were level'd with the dust.
At midnight, a tremendous fire began,
And through the city as it furious ran,
A warlike youth, for deeds of glory fam'd,
Nor less for filial love, Æneas nam'd,
Flew to his father's tent, “Haste! haste!” he cries
“The city is surpris'd; dear father, rise.”
Then rushing in with eager haste, he bore
His aged father forth, and sought a distant shore.
Jove, from Olympus' height, with joy survey'd
The pious act, and thus benignant said;
“Ye Nymphs and Tritons, who delighted sweep
With beauteous limbs the surface of the deep,
Be it your care Æneas be not lost;
Conduct him safe to the Italian coast;
There shall he wed the daughter of a king,
And from their loves a mighty race shall spring
Of warlike heroes, who aloft shall bear
My glorious standard through the fields of air.”
Then from his hand majestic forth he threw
The glittering eagle; swift as thought he flew
To guard Æneas' race, repel his foes,
Till from his sons a mighty nation rose.
The eagle grac'd the standard they unfurl'd,
And Rome became the mistress of the world.
Long, long she bore the universal sway;
The world with pleasure listened to obey
Whate'er were her commands; but to relate
What sudden, sad, what strange reverse of fate
Shrouded her glory—luxury and pride,
With avarice, and every vice beside,
Sapp'd her wise laws, unnerv'd her soldiers' pow'r,
And Rome's vast empire fell, to rise no more.

By vice and folly thus expell'd from Rome,
The warlike eagle sought another home,
In mazy circles round th' ethereal plain,
Unfix'd, uncertain where to 'light again.
Jove's martial bird majestically flew,
Till thy fair shades, Columbia, met his view;
On the new rising world he fix'd his eye,
And hover'd o'er it with exulting joy.
Jove saw with pleasure, and his will exprest,
“Go, in Columbia's shades take up thy rest,
For there, from lowly cot and moss grown cell,
My fav'rite daughter freedom, goes to dwell.
Science, with laurell'd brow, shall grace her court,
Thither the arts and muses shall resort,
Thither the brave and worthy shall repair;
And thou shalt grace the standard they shall bear,
Nor fear thou e'er shalt be expell'd again:
Columbia's Standard ne'er shall know a stain.

As thus the Thund'rer spoke, the realms above
Re-echoed with the strains of peace and love:
Long may Columbia flourish, was the strain,
Long may her glorious Independence reign;
By Heaven protected, may her children prove
The sweets of peace and pure domestic love.

The music ceas'd, the Standard glorious rose;
A youthful band the heavenly pledge enclose
To guard it, and repel invading foes;
When LIBERTY in robes transcendant bright,
Her head encircled with a crown of light,
Thus with a smile the warlike legion owns,
“Columbia is my home, Her Warriors are my Sons.”